Stirrup.



No. 699,472. Patented Ma'y 6, |902.

W. H. AUGHEY. W. CLIFTON.

STIRBUP.

(Application led Tune 6, 1901.)

(No Model.)

l A ul l.

W/TNESSES /N VENTO/ UNrrEn STATES` PATENT I EErcE.

STIRRUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,117.2, dated May 6*, 1902.

Application filed June 6, 1901. Serial No. 63,387. A(No model.)

To col-Z 1071/0712/ it nca/,11j concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM HENRY AUGHEY and WALTER CLIFTON, citizens of' Improvements in Stirrups, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.`

This invention has for its object to provide novel details of construction for a horsemans stirrup which adapts a pair of stirrups having the improvement for a quick and convenient change of adjustment, whereby they may be raised or lowered to suit different riders and also be readily adjusted to throw weight imposed upon the stirrups either upon the ankles of the rider or away from them, as may be desired. j

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described,and defined in the appended claims. Y

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a partly-sectional side view of a stirrup having the improvements. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 :is a face view of an upper portion of the stirrup having a feature of the invention thereon, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged end View of a bolt employed that is of novel construction.

The body 5 of the stirrup is preferably formed of sheet steel cut and shaped from a fiat piece, so as to give the main portion thereof a hoop-like form, from which project two essentially parallel members 5, as shown in Fig. l. The entire body of the stirrup is curved in cross-section, so as to render its outer Surface concave and inner surface conveX, whereby great strength and rigidity are conferred, and this convexity of the inner side of the tread 5b of the stirrup, together with its practically circular shape, adapts it to receive feet of different widths and afford a central support therefor that is comfortable and reliable in all cases.

The straight members 5 may be bent outwardly at their free ends 5C, so as to have clearance from the straps (not shown) that support the stirrup, and in the straight portions of said members, a suitable distance below the bent ends, a plurality of spaced 'orifices 10, ll, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are formed in each` limb, arranged in each limb or inem- .,ber as shown for one series of orifices in Fig. 3.

A carrier-bolt 6 is provided of a length to extend across the stirrup member 5 and pass therethrough, having a head a on one end and a preferably star-shaped nut 7 on the threaded opposite end 6a, that projects eXteriorly of the stirrup member when in proper position therein.

The orifices in the members 5a of the stirrup-body are preferably square in their defining walls and are arranged similarly in each stirrup member, so that an orifice indicated by a certain numeral-such, for example, as numberlO-will be disposed directly opposite an orifice in the other stirrup member 5, having a like designating-numeral.

' The carrier-bolt 6 near the head a has an angular formation a thereon, which will loosely fit into either of the angular orifices in a stirrup member ait may be preferred to locate it in.l At the opposite end of the boltbody an angular formation b is produced, which may be introduced within the orifice directly opposite the one wherein the angular formation a is positioned, and, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the portion of the bolt-body between the angular formations a andbis given a cylindrical Aform of such increased diameter compared with that of the portion b as to permit said cylindrical main portion of the bolt 6 to'receive thereon a cylindrical filling-block 8..

'Upon the block'S is mounted loosely the sleeve 9, which will rotate freely when the filling-block 8 is held from rotation by a proper adjustment of the nut 7 on the threaded portion 6a of the carrier-bolt 6. The sleeve 9 affords suitable means for connecting the stirrup with a depending strap fastened by one end on the riders saddle and technically known as the stirrup-leather, and when so engaged the stirrup-body will hang from the side of the saddle, with one edge thereof toward it, as usual. Ordinarily the :suspending straps or leathers of stirrups made in the usual way must be lengthened or shortened to adapt the stirrups for use by persons whose lower limbs vary in length, and if the rider is mounted he must dismount to permit the saddle-naps to be raised, so as to afford ac- IOO maiali cess to the buckles on the hanging straps or leathers.

The spaces between the three orifices 10 l1 12 in each member 5 of the stirrup-body 5 in a full-sized stirrup have considerable separation one from the other, and it will be obvious that if the engagement of the bolt 6 at its angular ends a' and Z) within the orifices 11 will afford a proper stirrup-support for a person having lower limbs of ordinary length the change of position for the bolt, so as to locate it in the lower orifices 12, will shorten the stirrup-support, so as to accommodate a person having lower limbs of less than medium length, and this change may be readily effected by a groom without requiring the rider to dismount if he is already in the saddle. It is also apparent that in case the rider has legs of more than ordinary length the engagement of the bolt 6 at its angular ends within the angular orifices 10 will compensate for this eXtra length of limbs and afford a comfortable stirrup-support for the rider.

As some riders have weak ankles which are tired easily while riding with stirrups of ordinary make, we have made provision to accommodate the stirrup of our invention for comfortable use by persons that are'weak in the ankles.

The angular orifices 13 and 14, which are adjacent vto the forward edge of the stirrup, are respectively opposite the orifices 15 16, that are a like distance from the rear edge thereof, and it has been found in practice that if the carrier-bolt is engaged with an opposite pair of orifices 13 the ankles of the rider will be relieved in a large degree from direct strain, this pair of orifices being positioned forward of the center o f the foot-support or stirrup-tread 5b and slightly above the orifices 1l, that are used. for men having lower limbs of ordinary length, so that the ankles of the rider will not bear against the sleeves 9, and the weight will be directly imposed on the soles and heels of the feet, which will relieve the ankles.

Directly below the orifices 13 are the orifices 11 in the members 5 of the stirrup-body, and the engagement of the bolt-body 6 with said orifices 14 will take all pressure and direct strain from the ankles of men who have shorter lower limbs than such as are best accommodated by having the carrier-bolt positioned in the upper pair of orifices 13.

Some riders prefer to have the sleeves 9 bear upon their ankles, which aids in control of fractions animals while riding them, and to accommodate persons who have such preference the location of the carrier-bolt 6 in either of the pairs of orifices 15 1G will effect such a disposition of their weight, and obviously the placing of the carrier-bolt in the upper orifices 15 will lengthen the distance of the stirrup-tread from the saddle-seat, and its engagement with the lower pair of orifices 1G will correspondingly shorten it.

the stirrup-tread, and thus avoid rubbing of the ankles upon the sides of the stirrups while riding rapidly and leaning to one side, as is necessary in following cattle during a roundup of a herd and also in otherstyles of horseback-riding.

It is another feature of apparent advantage had by our improved stirrup that the curved shape given to the sides and tread thereof serves to accommodate the feet of' riders which are either broad or narrow and always centers lthem in the stirrups, so that the improvements may be used by any rider without experiencing discomfort or any inconvenience while supported by the stirrups.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A stirrup, comprising a metal body circular in its major portion, concave-convex in cross-section throughout said circular portion, and provided above the circular portion with two members, that are parallel and fiat on inner surfaces thereof, a changeably-posit-ioned' carrier-bolt held between said fiat surfaces, and means to change the position of said carrier-bolt laterally and vertically.

2. A stirrup, comprising a metal body circular in its major portion, convex on the inner face of said circular portion, and provided above the circular portion with two limbs that are fiat on their inner surface, a carrier-bolt adapted for engagement with either of a group of spaced holes in each of said flat-faced limbs, and thus raise or lower the tread portion of the stirrup with regard to said carrier-bolt.

3. Astirrup, comprising a metal body convex on the inner surface, circular in its major portion, having two straight members above the circular portion, a plurality of orifices in said straight members, disposed oppositelyin pairs, a carrier-bolt having a head on one end and a screw-nut on the opposite end, said bolt being adapted to engage with any pair of the orifices so as to dispose said bolt above, below or at either side of a central pair of the orifices, a cylindrical core-block mounted on the bolt-body, and a sleeve loosely supported upon the core-block.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in thevpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM HENRY AUGHEY. I/VALTER CLIFTON. Witnesses:

HENRY GERHARZ, F. L. MANN.

ICS

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